Let me just state what should be the obvious: Art is a big deal. In fact, it is vitally important. Art is not a frill. For those who agree with that assertion, they will likely find it hard to believe there are some within the city who are working against the beautifying of Santa Maria. They are opposing a first ever Arts Master Plan for Santa Maria. You have a chance to let your voice be heard on June 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Planning Commission meeting as the city continues reviewing an Arts Master Plan. This plan would insure that as the city grows and faces redevelopment, public art projects would become essential companion components of the cityscape, including murals, sculptures, banners, performances, and other artistic enhancements.
Public art not only beautifies a city but allows us to explore new ideas, express emotions, and help us better appreciate cultures near and far. Art expands perceptions, it helps to identify a community and strengthen local economies, it creates an enhanced sense of place, and deepens local cultural capacity. Art enriches our lives, inspires us, it is the link necessary for innovation. Art is a reflection of our personalities, dreams, defeats, and triumphs. It is what fuels the imagination. Art is what makes us human.
Public art gives a city character and identity that makes it appealing to residents and helps to further attract visitors. We need to celebrate, support, and encourage the expansion of the arts, not put up a roadblock to its progression in our city. But there is a faction that is opposed to a 1 percent development fee on new construction to pay for art. The concept of a percent for art is not new. For decades cities across the country have used this mechanism to enrich and beautify their towns.
Since 1959, local percent-for-art ordinances have been applied to publicly funded capital improvement projects. Today, cities are also expanding percent-for-art programs to include private development. Today, there exist approximately 350 public art programs in the United States. There is a misconception that public art is located only in larger cities. In fact, the largest growth of public art programs has been on the small city, suburban, and town level. Of the 350 public art programs in the United States, 111 of them serve populations of 150,000 or less. Nationally, 86 programs serve populations of 1 million or more. A conservative estimate puts the number of public artworks created through percent-for-art programs at around 24,000.
According to Americans for the Arts:
• Seattle was one of the first cities in the United States to adopt a percent-for-art ordinance in 1973. For 40 years, that public art program has been considered exemplary. The program integrates artworks and the ideas of artists into a variety of public settings, advancing Seattle’s reputation as a cultural center for innovation and creativity.
• The program specifies that 1 percent of eligible city capital improvement project funds be set aside for the commission, purchase, and installation of artworks in a variety of settings. By providing opportunities for individuals to encounter art in parks, libraries, community centers, on roadways, bridges, and other public venues, the Seattle program simultaneously enriches citizens’ daily lives and gives voice to artists.
• The Seattle collection includes more than 400 permanently sited and integrated works and nearly 3,000 portable works. Artworks are commissioned through a public process. Panels composed of professional visual artists along with community and city representatives evaluate the artist applicants. The city stewards and maintains its artworks through an ongoing program of coordinated conservation activities, which include inspections, major restorative work, and routine maintenance (www.seattle.gov/arts/programs/public-art).
As Santa Maria’s redevelopment and downtown specific plan work to enhance our city, we need to insist there is a pay-as-you-go program like the percent-for-arts and ensure we beautify our environment.
The Chamber of Commerce and some builders have been highly critical of a percent-for-art program. This opposition is crazy since people want to live in and visit an esthetically pleasing town—which translates to money being spent in local businesses. As for builders’ objections, developers are already required to make improvements to the city with every building project. Off-site improvements they are responsible for include sidewalks, landscaping, water, power, streetlights, parks, and sewers. Why not help further beautify our city as well with art projects? The costs to all these responsibilities to developers are all part of the project’s costs that filter down to the end user. However, of all the requirements on development, art would be the smallest portion of a project’s cost with the price of land typically being the largest expense. Art should be added to the cost of doing business in Santa Maria. And Santa Maria will benefit as a result.
We all have a responsibility to nurture, support, and expand the arts. Art endures, it teaches, it brings people together, it fills an undeniable space inside us all that is essential for our humanity. Yes, it is that important; like the air that we breathe. We need to focus on the arts, encourage our friends and neighbors to open their eyes to the art that is already around us, participate in the arts as a creator or patron, introduce someone to a gallery or a play, and whenever possible, remind our government leaders how important art is to a city’s vitality.
We as a city need to move forward, as so many other cities in the country have, with a cohesive plan that will guarantee the creation of art in public spaces.
The Santa Maria Arts Council has advocated for the arts for more than 52 years and supports and encourages the expansion of the arts. For 37 years the council has worked to keep art alive in the classroom by sponsoring the Spring Student Art Show which just concluded this April. Since 1971 the council has supported emerging artists in dance, drama, music, and visual arts through the Individual Grants in the Arts Awards and Showcase. This year more than $13,000 will be awarded to 12 of the brightest artists in the valley. The public is welcome to attend the showcase on Monday, May 15, at the Veterans Memorial Cultural Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. Reserve tickets at smartscouncil.org.
To date the Arts Council has awarded more than $273,000 to nearly 400 locally trained emerging artists in our valley through the Individual Grants in the Arts program.
Also, as part of the event we will honor William J. Cirone for his contributions to the arts and arts education. His office was responsible for the establishment of the Children’s Creative Project, which provides artists in residence for schools countywide. That program currently serves 145 elementary schools and reaches more than 65,000 children with performances and visual and performing arts workshops. He’s been the recipient of the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission Leadership in Arts Award and the California Arts Council Outstanding Arts Educator Award, and many more.
Volunteers, members, and art advocates are always welcome to join the Arts Council. Visit the website, smartscouncil.org, and do your part to support and encourage the expansion of the arts in our valley.
Craig Shafer is past president of the Santa Maria Arts Council and a 37-year resident of Santa Maria. Send your thoughts to letters@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 11-18, 2017.